Samuel hudson



(N0 Model.)

S. HUDSON. MACHINE FOR BLOCKING THE QUARTERS 0F BOOTS.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL HUDSON, OF LEICESTER, COUNTY OF LEICESTER, ENGLAND. I

MACHINE FOR BLOCKING'THE QUARTERS OF BOOTS.

S2ECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 290,284, dated December 18, 1883.

Application filed December 18, 198:2. (No model.) Patented in England February 15,1882, No.726.

.To aZZ whom it may concern.-

- Be it known that I, SAMUEL HUDSON, asubject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Leicester, in the county of Leicester, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Blocking the Fronts or Front Quarters of Boots; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and mo act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for blocking the fronts or front quarters of boots. in which the leather of which such fronts or front quarters are to be made, is shaped by being forced by a suitably-shaped 2o pressure-plate between two corresponding side plates 5 and the objects of my improvements are, first, to facilitate the process of blocking by making the center pressure-plate or the'side plates in the form of a revolving wheel or disk, 5 and, second, to afford facilities for the proper t," adjustment of the side plates independently of each other in respect to the center pressureplate. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine, and Fig. 2 is a vertical section. Fig. 3 is a de tailed view of the revolving pressure-plate, and Fig. 4is a detailed view of one of the side plates, Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts in the several views. 7

a a are two side frames or standards,carrying a spindle, b, to which is attached thecener wheel or disk, 0, which revolves between the two fixed side plates or checks, (2 d,which are kept in their proper position transversely by P be set-screws e e e e and vertically by the studs ror cross-bars f f. The disk cis provided with farms, the front edges of which are made of a shape corresponding with that which is to be given to the leather or other material, and the upper edges of the side plates, d d, have acorresponding shape. Springs g Fig. 2, are inserted between the side plates, d d, and the set-screws e e c e, so that the side plates may accommodate themselves to the varying thickness of leather, and their pressure can be regulated as desired.

The spindle b and center wheel or disk, 0, can be made to revolve by toothed wheels and driving-pulleys at j j, by hand or other con- I venient power.

Pieces of leather or other material ,of proper shape to form the fronts or front quarters of boots, are placed one by one upon the top of the two side plates or cheeks, d d, at 72, Fig. 1, between two of the arms of the revolving disk 0, the leg portion of the leather being farthest from the center of this disk, and as the latter revolves the edge of one of its arms, by reason of its shape, as shown, enters the jaws with the leg portion of the front farthest from the center and slightly in advance of the other portion, and causes the leather to be forced between the plates or checks d d, the arm striking,the jaws with the straight line of the leg, and with the requisite curve for the other porti on, and thus pressing it into the desired form, and carrying it round to the point where it can be removed from the arm of the disk 0 as it emerges from between the side plates, d d. The springs g g g gallow the side plates, d d, to accommodate themselves to the various thicknesses of the leather and the pressure tobe regulated, as desired.

' The advancing edges of the arms of the revolving disk 0, and the upper edges of the stationary side plates, d d, may be made of any desired form, so as to give the requisite shape to the front or front quarter, according to the size and description of boot which is to be made.

From the method of arrangement and operation described and shown in the'drawings, it will be evident that the side plates or cheeks, d d, might in some cases be made to revolve while the center disk, 0, remains stationary, and the shaped edges of the arms of the disk 0 and of the upper edge of the plate d may be made movable and attached by screws, so that others of different shape may be substituted for them when requisite, without removing the disk or plates from the machine.

It will now be seen that in my construction I combine the following features, namely:. a rotary disk-wheel working between checks which swing free on two shafts or rods--0ne at each end of the machinewith self-adjusting springs of wire or other suitable material on each side of them fixed to other stationary jaws, thus allowing the center jaws free action to yield and extend with the varying thickness of the leather, and the center wheel or disk with a series of arms so shaped that they enter the jaws in a manner to bring the leg of the front slightlyin advance of the other part of instep or other part of the front, and so striking the jaws with a straight line of the leg, the leg portion being farthest from the center of the machine.

I am aware that prior to my invention the fronts of boots have been formed by pressing 15 the leather or other material between acenter plate and two side cheeks, and I do not claim,

broadly, such method of forming the fronts of boots; but

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire 20 to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In combination, the rotary disk having a series of arms made with their shaping edges substantially as described, cheeks or jaws having the edge contour substantially as described, and swung free on two shafts or rods-one at each end ofthe machineself-adj ustin g springs on each side of said cheeks and fixed to stationary jaws, the center jaws or cheeks being free to adapt themselves to the varying thickness of the leather, and the arms of the disk bein g shaped as shown, and whereby theleg of the bootfront shall be caused to enter the jawsin advance of the instep portion and strike the jaws with the straight line of the leg, all as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL HUDSOX.

\Vi tnesses:

HENRY Heel-Ins, STEPHEN PEAKE. 

